INORGANIC

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does inorganic mean? 

• INORGANIC (adjective)
  The adjective INORGANIC has 2 senses:

1. relating or belonging to the class of compounds not having a carbon basis

2. lacking the properties characteristic of living organisms

  Familiarity information: INORGANIC used as an adjective is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• INORGANIC (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Relating or belonging to the class of compounds not having a carbon basis

Context example:

hydrochloric and sulfuric acids are called inorganic substances

Domain category:

chemical science; chemistry (the science of matter; the branch of the natural sciences dealing with the composition of substances and their properties and reactions)

Antonym:

organic (relating or belonging to the class of chemical compounds having a carbon basis)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Lacking the properties characteristic of living organisms

Similar:

amorphous; unstructured (lacking the system or structure characteristic of living bodies)

artificial (not arising from natural growth or characterized by vital processes)

mineral (composed of matter other than plant or animal)

Antonym:

organic (being or relating to or derived from or having properties characteristic of living organisms)

 Context examples 

A group of organic or inorganic substances capable of preventing the genotoxic and carcinogenic effects of free-radical compounds.

(Antioxidant, NCI Thesaurus)

The spheres also have the capability to absorb both organic and inorganic substances.

(Nanosphere, NCI Thesaurus)

A green or yellow colored, crystalline inorganic compound that produces toxic gases upon heating.

(Nickel Chloride, NCI Thesaurus)

A green to black colored, inorganic compound that turns yellow and produces toxic gases upon heating.

(Nickel Monoxide, NCI Thesaurus)

The aim was to remove inorganic arsenic because it is much more toxic than organic arsenic.

(Parboiling husked rice reduces arsenic content, SciDev.Net)

A nanoparticle-based prodrug formulation consisting of polymeric micelles incorporating the inorganic platinum agent cisplatin with potential antineoplastic activity.

(Micellar Nanoparticle-Encapsulated Cisplatin NC-6004, NCI Thesaurus)

An inorganic or organic molecule which binds metal ions.

(Metal Chelator, NCI Thesaurus)

Had it built itself out of the cooling, inorganic elements of the globe?

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

TNAP has a positive influence on mineralization primarily by controlling the size of the inhibitory pool of PPi through its inorganic pyrophosphatase activity.

(Bone Mineralization Regulation Pathway, NCI Thesaurus/BIOCARTA)

The quantification of a simple organic or inorganic chemical within a biological specimen.

(Chemistry Measurement, NCI Thesaurus)